Even more new, damning evidence on Collins.

I do not want to talk about Judith Collins’ “private” dinner. There are plenty of people making astute points about her impropriety there already. Instead, I want to draw attention to another damning part of last week’s Friday afternoon OIA-dump.

It shows that Judith Collins’ visit to Oravida was an official, Ministerial visit specifically designed by the New Zealand government to improve Oravida’s, and only Oravida's, business opportunities in China. That is something Judith Collins is strictly forbidden from doing in her Ministerial capacity, because her husband is a director of the company.

This is further evidence that Collins has used taxpayer funds to help her husband’s business, and that she has spent the last two months lying about that fact to her boss, the Parliament, and the people of New Zealand. She must resign.

Background of organization / institution
Oravida New Zealand Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oravida Ltd., a diversified company which owns a number of businesses in different sectors. The company is owned by Mr Deyi (Stone ) Shi and has two directors, Julia Xu and David Wong-Tung.

I was being driven around and I was assured by the ambassador that we could pop into Oravida on the way to the airport, or else I could have gone to the airport and I could have sat in the lounge for an extra long time.

This document shows that was also a lie. The meeting with Oravida was neither informal, spontaneous, nor on the way to the airport. The meeting was planned by officials long in advance, and was ticked off by Collins as part of her Ministerial itinerary before she left New Zealand.

Third, when she ticked off the meeting with Oravida, Collins agreed to head a New Zealand government team whose explicit, agreed purpose was “To increase the profile of [Oravida].”

That is the critical point.

Collins is prohibited from using her Ministerial position to “increase the profile” of firms from which her husband, David Wong-Tung, may derive a benefit. She breached the Cabinet Manual in participating in this visit knowing full well, in advance, its purpose and the conflict it entails. Hell, MFAT even named Collins’ husband as a director right there on the page, in case she needed any reminding!

A conflict may arise if people close to a Minister, such as a Minister's family, whanau, or close associates, might derive, or be perceived as deriving, some personal, financial, or other benefit from a decision or action by the Minister or the government.

So, let’s tick off the elements:

Does David Wong-Tung benefit in any way from the success of Oravida New Zealand Ltd, which he serves as a director?
Yes.

Did Judith Collins take an action that might benefit Oravida, and therefore David Wong-Tung?
Yes. She visited its facility in Shanghai in order to raise its profile.

Was that action taken in her Ministerial capacity?
Yes. Her visit was an official engagement, arranged by MFAT, with on-site support from four diplomatic officials.

Did the Minister know that her action would benefit Oravida, and therefore David Wong-Tung?
Yes. She was informed in advance and in writing that the purpose of the visit was to increase Oravida’s local profile in China.

I anticipate another dreadful, embarrassing performance in Parliament from Collins this week in light of this issue and the others she is facing this week. And I expect her resignation will be announced early next week so it can be immediately drowned out by the Budget.

"New Zealand also has a State Service Code of Conduct that applies to all public sector employees. This ensures public servants are aware of their obligations and boundaries.

The Code is also available to the public, which increases the transparency and accountability of public servants and the public sector in general"

...

"The second tool in the fight against corruption is increasing public education and awareness. People need to know what corruption looks like, and what to do if they see it.

Corruption, by nature, is a surreptitious offence; it will always be difficult to detect. As with illness, prevention is the best cure. But where prevention fails, good detection mechanisms are necessary."

Tigress?
Wow Judith! Are you for real? Wow?
Or just Judith in slinky yellow and black camo suit?
Hasn't attacking like a tigress on Twitter got you into enough trouble already?
Go have a nice holiday, a lie-down and then resign to "spend more time with family".
Do the honourable thing by the Party tigress!
You know it makes sense Judith.

Mrs Wong-Tung, you can run, but you can't hide.
Even in a tigress costume.
Do the honourable thing and withdraw.
Call it family. Call it new horizons and challenges.
Call it what the spin doctors tell you to,
Look how your mentor Jenny Shipley thrived since she left Parliament.
You can do it tigress ... for the sake of the Party

What on earth is this "smoking gun" rubbish supposed to mean?? When even former tory hemerrhoids like Duncan Garner are speaking, and writing openly on just how many of the national party are intrinsically involved with Oravida, then it becomes rather obvious that both collins, and Williamson have been thrown under the tanks to buy time.... Does anyone with a brain seriously think that this will be an "isolated" incident?? Is there any still deluded enough to argue that this episode "sets a precedent"?

The precedent has been in place for a while now...This is just the tories getting sloppy as a result of the interference the "fourth estate" has been running for them up until recently....

I can only laugh at National’s spin, manipulation and BS about her going on stress leave. This whole scandal is created by Collins herself through her dodgy actions and dodgy statements. Her own behaviour and Key’s defense are entirely responsible for this despicable episode. If she has been truthful and has nothing to hide, then there is no reason for her to be stressed or to be running away! She and Key may want to hide from the media for a few days to hoodwink the people, but they can’t run for too long because the voters will stop them in Sept. Only the truth will set them free.

New Zealand doesn't need a Thatcher-wannabe now, much how like Britain didn't need Thatcher's deleterious fiscal policy in 1979... McCarthyism is a political mental illness. However I'd be remiss to simply deride her, she might just be better suited to governance of private organisations, where back-room deals are the modus operandi. Then again, New Zealand voted to have the country run by a private political party... perhaps the public lacks this understand of the difference betweena private and public party?

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